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Tel Aviv OneVoice Summit Cancelled in Show of Solidarity, Adams Reaffirms his Support

Fringe Extremists Threatened Palestinian Staff, Performers 'A Setback for
600,000 Moderates'
Experience the Impact of OneVoice on Civil Society in Palestine and
Israel:
www.onemillionvoices.org
JERICHO/TEL AVIV, Israel, Oct. 15 /CNW/ -- In a show of solidarity with
OneVoice Palestine, the OneVoice Movement, and artists and celebrities engaged
with them, have decided to cancel the OneVoice Summit due to take place this
Thursday in Tel Aviv. Security threats late last week prompted the
cancellation of a parallel OneVoice Summit planned for Jericho.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071015/NYM142LOGO )
Fringe groups waged a slanderous campaign to incite threats against
OneVoice staff and supporters claiming that a survey OneVoice release five
years ago represented a policy document on final status negotiations.
The OneVoice Peoples' Summits, the first effort of its kind, offered an
unprecedented opportunity for the Israeli and Palestinian people, in parallel,
to propel and support their leaders in the quest to resolve the conflict in
the wake of the Arab Peace Initiative and in the build up to the November
Annapolis Conference. The Summits, and the work of OneVoice, are not an
attempt to define the content of those negotiations, but to demand progress
thereon.
OneVoice Palestine President, Dr. Fathi Darwish, has vowed to go on with
the mission, "We are heartened by this show of solidarity. Now more than ever,
we are determined to fulfill the OneVoice mission. I think that most
Palestinian and Israeli moderates want to send a message, one message from
both sides: We are fed up with the situation. We are facing a fringe minority
of loud extremists, but they cannot stop our struggle to end the occupation
through a two state solution -- the only solution for two peoples."
Gil Shamy, Executive Director of OneVoice Israel, summarized the OneVoice
approach, "The public does not have the power to implement resolutions, but it
has the imperative to hold their leaders accountable - and to demand
immediate, ongoing negotiations until an agreement is reached."
Over the past six years, OneVoice has gathered the support of over half a
million Israelis and Palestinians. The organization remains committed to
achieving their goal of uniting all moderates in the region and empowering the
process from the grassroots.
A campaign of lies against OneVoice was launch by radical groups,
including PFLP, who oppose the goal of Israel and Palestine living side by
side. This then evolved into an intimidation campaign against those due to
take part in the OneVoice Summit.
Nisreen Shaheen, of OneVoice Palestine, confirmed, "These lies are
completely unfounded and the Palestinian people are being deceived by fringe
movements whose existence is premised on the conflict. OneVoice is standing
behind the President's platform."
Daniel Lubetzky, President of the PeaceWorks Foundation that helped
conceive the OneVoice Movement, added "We are very heartened by the steadfast
support of all the dignitaries and celebrities, like Bryan Adams, who
committed to stay on board and join us as soon as we can re-group to fulfill
our vision -- for him to perform both in Israel and Palestine. This was a
setback for 600,000 moderates. But our work will not cease till we achieve our
mission of breaking the shackles of extremism and seizing back the agenda for
moderates to live in peace."
In the meantime, as a response to the postponement, the group has been
working with Yahoo! to highlight the power of the people. "We invite people
across the world to join us on October 18, 2007 at 7pm Jerusalem time (1pm
EST) at video.yahoo.com/onevoice to experience something they have not seen
before," said Lubetzky.
About the OneVoice Movement:
The OneVoice Movement is a mainstream nationalist grassroots movement
with over 584,000 (as of 10/13/2007) Israeli and Palestinian members, and
3,000 highly-trained youth leaders. It aims to amplify the voice of the
overwhelming but heretofore silent majority of moderates who wish for peace
and prosperity, empowering them to demand accountability from elected
representatives and work toward a two state solution. OneVoice counts on its
Board over 60 foremost dignitaries and business leaders across a wide spectrum
of politics and beliefs, joining as OneVoice against violent extremism and for
conflict resolution. Learn more by visiting our website at
www.onemillionvoices.org.